Weymouth man found guilty in Raynham motorcyclist's death

A judge today found 74-year-old John Hanrahan of Weymouth guilty in the motor vehicle death of a motorcyclist from Raynham, but Hanrahan won't do any jail time.

Alice Elwell

A judge today found 74-year-old John Hanrahan guilty in the motor vehicle death of a motorcyclist from Raynham, but Hanrahan won't do any jail time.

Wareham District Court Judge Rosemary B. Minehan sentenced Hanrahan, of Weymouth, to a one-year suspended sentence in the Plymouth House of Correction, three years of probation and 1,500 hours of community service.

Hanrahan, of 8 David's Island Road in Weymouth, was charged with negligent operation in connection with the death of Brian Mello, 43, a New Bedford firefighter who lived in Raynham.

Mello's family and friends pleaded for Minehan to give Hanrahan jail time, and said they will lobby for stiffer sentencing on March 18 at the state House of Representatives.

In March of last year, Mello, Thomas Newhook, 43, of Middleboro and Wolfgang Decker, 47, of Bridgewater, were on motorcycles when they collided with Hanrahan’s car after he turned left in front of them on Route 44 in Middleboro at the northbound ramp to Interstate 495, authorities said at the time. Mello was killed and the other two were seriously in jured.